Fluid-packed drill pipe



9, 1966 F. D. DE JARNETT 3,265,091

FLUID-PACKED DRILL PIPE Filed Dec. 7, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet l ll A i 55 7 Z Z262. L 4

Aug. 9, 1966 F. D. DE JARNETT FLUID-PACKED DRILL PIPE Filed Dec. 7, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Wravraf.

fizzy m Aug. 9, 1966 F. D. DE JARNETT FLUID-PACKED DRILL PIPE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 7, 1962 AWazA/JM United States Patent 3,265,091 FLUID-PACKED DRILL PIPE Frank D. De Jarnett, 2150 Chestnut Ave, Long Beach, Calif.

Filed Dec. 7, 1962, Ser. No. 243,088 7 Claims. (Cl. 138114) My invention relates to improvements in fluid-packed drill pipe, and particularly their applicat on to the use 0 rotary tools, where a bit designed to cut in rotary motion is carried on a string of drill pipe, which s assembled in such manner that it may be rotated and ralsed or lowered in the well bore as desired; and the objects of my Invention are, first, to provide a novel type 0f flu1d-packed drill pipe which will minimize structural fa lures caused by vibration and particularly by harmonic vibrations and shock transmitted from the rotary bit along the assembled drill pipes; second, to provide a fluid-packed drill pipe using bushings between the inner steel tube and the outer steel tube, permitting thereby the assembly of any combination of inside and outside tube sizes and the size of the annular space between the outer surface of the inner steel tube and the inner surface of the outer steel tube; third, to provide a fluid-packed drill pipe, combmmg the use of fluid and a plurality of sleeves placed about the inner steel tube, thereby acting as a stabilizing element for the drill pipe and using bushings between the inner steel tube and the inner surface of the outer steel tube for the purpose of defining the size of the annular space therebetween and to provide further a fluid-tight seal 1f deslred between said tubes; fourth, to provide a fluid-packed dr1ll pipe using bushings providing a fluid-tight seal between the inner steel tube and the inner surface of'the outer steel tube and having filler holes permitting the introduction of fluid into the annular space after assembly of the unit; and fifth, to provide a fluid-packed drill pipe which is easily assembled and manufactured, and wherein the weight may be predetermined depending upon the type of packing ll'l combination with the type of fluid to be used.

Reference is made to my United States letters Patent No. 2,814,462, issued November 26, 1957, for its description of the causes of vibration and shock in connection with the functioning of a drill bit.

Additional objects, together with further advantages derived in utilizing the present invention, will become apparent from the following detailed description thereof, taken together with the accompanying drawing forming a part of the specification, in which FIGURE 1 is a partial, longitudinal, sectional view of my device including the placement and disposition of a plurality of sleeves of pre-determined weight and composition;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional fragmentary view of a drill pipe, using bushings including a filler hole extending from the outside of the tube assembly to the annular chamber provided between the inner steel tube and the inside of the outer steel tube;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of my drill pipe, including bushings defining the top and bottom limits of the inner and outer steel tubes and forming an annular fluid-tight chamber therebetween, and further using a tool joint box, pressure fitted about the inner steel tube, and a tool joint pin, pressure fitted about the inner steel tube, and each of said tool joints being welded to the outer steel tube, respectively;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of my drill pipe, using fluid-tight bushings to define the annular space formed between the inner steel tube and the inside of the outer steel tube and using an inner steel tube thfeadedly ged with a tool joint box and a tool joint pin, each of said tool joints being welded to the outer steel tube;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary, longitudinal, cross-seetional view of a portion of my drill pipe, showing a bushing having a filler hole provided with fluid-tight set screw, providing a recess between the upper end of the inner steel tube and said bushing and fitted into a recessed portion of a tool joint box, pressure fitted and welded about and to the outer steel tube;

FIGURE 6 is a transverse section taken on line 6-6 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary, longitudinal, cross-sectional view of my drill pipe, using bushings between the inner steel tube and the inside of the outer steel tube to define an annular fluid-tight space therebetween, a tool joint box, being pressure fitted and threaded to the outside of the outer steel tube, and a tool joint pin, being pressure fitted and threaded to the outside of the outer steel tube;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary, longitudinal, cross-sectional view of my drill pipe, using bushings disposed between the inner steel tube and the outer steel tube in a fluid-tight manner and providing an annular space therebetween, the bushings having a filler hole and a set screw to close the filler hole in a fluid-tight manner, and a tool joint box and a tool joint pin, pre-heated and pressure fitted to the ends of the tubes, respectively, and welded to the outside of the outer steel tube;

FIGURE 9 is a cross-sectional view of a bushing placed within an outer steel tube, partially in perspective;

FIGURE 10 is a cross-sectional view, partially in perspective, of a modified form of my bushing, using slots extending partially through said bushing giving the bushing flexibility without, however, preventing it from providing a fluid-tight seal between the inner steel tube and the inside of the outer steel tube of my drill pipe;

FIGURE 11 is a cross-sectional view, partially in perspective, of a modified form of my bushing, using a slot and gasket providing for a fluid-tight seal between the bushing and the inside of the outer steel tube; and

FIGURE 12 is a cross-sectional view, partially in perspective, of a modified form of my bushing, having tapered cylindrical outside walls to fit into the tapered end portion of an outside steel tube to provide a fluid-tight seal by suitable pre-heating and pressure fit.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The invention described in FIGURE 1 of the accompanying drawing includes an inner steel tube -10 surrounded by an outer steel tube 20, the inner steel tube having threaded ends.

A number of sleeves composed either of hard rubber or steel 11, 11, are arranged about the inner steel tube 10 by pre-heatmg said sleeves and permittin them to shrink longitudinally arranged groove 55.

Spacers 13 are arranged alternately between adjacent sleeves in slidable relation to the outside surface of the inner steel tube, and are arranged so as to be permitted to slide longitudinally along said inner steel tube between adjacent sleeves.

Bushings 14, 14 are provided at each end of the inner steel tube adjacent to the threaded end portions thereof, These bushings have openings 15, 15 extending from the top to the bottom of the bushing and having a screwthreaded portion provided with a screw plug 16, 16 sealing the opening.

The bushings are pre-heated before installation and then pressure shrunk about the surface of the inner steel tube.

The outer steel tube 20 is then pre-heated and placed about the bushings 14 where it normalizes in a pressure C9 fit against the outer surface of the bushings 14, 14 and sleeves 11, 11 which are of the same outside diameter as the inside diameter of the outer steel tube 20.

A liquid, of pre-determined density and viscosity, is then injected into the annular space provided between the inner steel tube 10 and the outer steel tube 20 and the space is then sealed by the screw plugs 16, 16.

A tool joint box 17 and a tool joint pin 18, each having a cylindrically shaped recessed portion 19, 19, are then preheated and screw-threadedly engaged to the threaded ends of the inner steel tube 10 until the ends of the outer steel tube make contact with the top and bottom respectively, of the recessed portions 19, 19. A gasket 21, of suitable material, may be provided in the top and bottom portions of the recesses to assist in providing a fluidtight seal.

The tool joint box 17 and tool joint pin 18 are then welded by suitable joints 22, 22 to the outside of the outer steel tube 20.

As shown in FIGURE 2, instead of welding the outer steel tube to the tool joint box and tool joint pin, the outer steel tube may be threaded at both ends and threaded into a threaded portion 29, 30 of the tool joint box and tool joint pin, respectively.

As shown in FIGURE 3, the outer steel tube 20 may have beveled ends and a tool joint box 31 and tool joint pin 32 may be provided having the same outside diameter as the outer steel tube, and the outer steel tube may be welded to the tool joint box, and tool joint pin, respectively, while the inner steel tube is pressure shrunk against the tool joint box and tool joint pin which has been preheated prior to assembly.

As shown in FIGURE 4, an inner steel tube may be used being threaded at both ends and a tool joint box and tool joint pin may be used having a neck portion 35 of the same outside diameter as the outer steel tube, and being welded to said outer steel tube, and end portions having beveled ends 37, 38, as shown, while the inner steel tube is pressure fitted to said tool joint box and tool joint pin by preheating said tool joint box and tool joint pin, respectively, and threading them about the inner steel tube, causing a pressure fit against the threaded portions of the inner steel tube.

As shown in FIGURES and 6, respectively, the inner steel tube and outer steel tube may be inserted into a recess provided at the tool joint box and made fluid-tight by welding the tool joint box to the outer surface of the outer steel tube 40, as shown.

FIGURE 7 is a modification of my device shown in FIGURE 2, wherein the inner steel tube is pressure fitted I against the tool joint box and tool joint pin and the outer steel tube is provided with threaded ends which are also pressure fitted against the tool joint box and tool joint pin, respectively.

FIGURE 8 represents a modification of my invention, wherein the connection of the inner steel tube and outer steel tube, respectively, is made by pressure fit to the tool joint box and tool joint pin in recesses 42, 43, provided in said tool joint box and tool joint pin, and the tool joint box and tool joint pin, respectively, are attached to the outer surface of the outer steel tube by welded joints 48, 49.

The type of bushing may vary according to the type preferred by the user for the particular need.

As shown in FIGURE 9, the bushing used is of straight cylindrical shape 14, having a filler hole 15 extending from the top to the bottom of the bushing 14. A screwthreaded portion is provided with a screw plug 16 permitting a fluid-tight seal of the filler hole 15.

As shown in FIGURE 10, the bushing may be of the slotted type 51 to ease its installation between the inner steel tube and the outer steel tube.

As shown in FIGURE 11, the bushing is provided with a circumferential groove 52 provided with a packing ring 53 or seal. A similar groove and seal may be provided on the inside of the bushing to provide a fluid-tight seal between the inner steel tube 10 and the bushing.

As shown in FIGURE 12, the bushing has an outside tapered portion 53, for insertion into a similarly tapered portion 54, of the outer steel tube 20, to provide a fluidtight bearing surface. Similarly, the inner surface of the bushing may be tapered to bear against a similarly tapered outside surface of the inner steel tube.

All bushings are provided (with the filler hole 15 extending longitudinally through the entire width of the bushing, and have a threaded portion provided with a screw plug 16.

By selecting a bushing of a predetermined outside diameter, a predetermined combination of inner steel tubes and outer steel tubes may be used.

It is understood that various forms of my invention may be used or utilized embodying the principles of my invention, without departing from the spirit of my invention.

1 claim:

1. A device of the class described, comprising an inner steel tube having threaded ends and an outer steel tube arranged one within the other with their respective opposite ends proximate each other inside of each threaded portion of said inner steel tube, forming a cylindrical space between the outer surface of the inner steel tube and the inner sunface of the outer steel tube, a cylindrically shaped bushing afiixed to each end of the inner steel tube adjacent to each threaded portion of the inner steel tube and having an outside diameter substantially equal to the inside diameter of the outer steel tube so as to seal the cylindrical space between the bushings, and the outer surface of the inner steel tube and the inner surface of the outer steel tube in a fluid-tight manner, each bushing having a longitudinal opening partially threaded and closed by a screw plug, a tool joint box threadedly arranged about one threaded end of the inner steel tube and weldedly aflixed to the corresponding end of the outer steel tube, a tool joint pin threadedly atfixed to the opposite threaded end of the inner steel tube and weldedly affixed to the corresponding end of the outer steel tube, and fluid of preselected density stored in the cylindrical space hereinabove described.

2. A device of the class described, comprising an inner steel tube having threaded ends and an outer steel tube arranged one within the other with their respective opposite ends proximate each other inside of each threaded portion of said inner steel tube, forming a cylindrical space between the outer surface of the inner steel tube and the inner surface of the outer steel tube, a bushing affixed to each end of the inner steel tube adjacent to each threaded portion of the inner steel tube and having an outside diameter substantially equal to the inside diameter of the outer steel tube so as to seal the cylindrical space between said bushings and the outer surface of the inner steel tube and the inner surface of the outer steel tube in a fluid-tight manner, each bushing having a longitudinal opening partially threaded and closed by a screw plug, a tool joint box threadedly arranged about one threaded end of the inner steel tube and weldedly aflixed to the corresponding end of the outer steel tube, a tool joint pin threadedly aflixed to the opposite threaded end of the inner steel tube and weldedly affixed to the corresponding end of the outer steel tube, sleeves separated by spacers being arranged about the outer surface of the inner steel tube between bushings, the sleeves having an outside diameter substantially equal to the inside diameter of the outer steel tube, the outside surtace of said sleeves pro vided with a longitudinal groove permitting the flow of fluid from the portion of the cylindrical space above such sleeve to the portion of the cylindrical space below such sleeve and the outside diameter of each spacer being substantially smaller than the inside diameter of the outer steel tube, and fluid of preselected density stored in the cylindrical space herein-above described.

3. A device of the class described, comprising an inner steel tube and an outer steel tube arranged one within the other with their respective opposite ends proximate each other, except for an extension of the inner steel tube protruding beyond each opposite end of the outer steel tube, forming a cylindrical space between the outer surface of the inner steel tube and the inner surface of the outer steel tube, a bushing affixed to each end of the outer steel tube so as to seal the space between the outer surface of the inner steel tube and the inner surface of the outer steel tube in a fluid-tight manner, each bushing having an opening transversing it parallel to the center bore of the bushing, a tool joint box pressure shrunk about a protruding end of the inner steel tube having an outside diameter substantially the same as the outside diameter of the outer steel tube and aflixed to the outer steel tube by an annular weld, and a tool joint pin pressure shrunk to the other protruding end of the inner steel tube and having an outside diameter substantially the same as the outside diameter of the outer steel tube and aflixed thereto by an annular weld, and fluid of a pre-determined density provided in the cylindrical space hereinabove described.

4. A device of the class described, comprising an inner steel tube and an outer steel tube arranged one within the other with their respective opposite ends proximate each other, except for an extension of the inner steel tube protruding beyond each opposite end of the outer steel tube, forming a cylindrical space between the outer surface of the inner steel tube and the inner surface of the outer steel tube, a bushing partially slotted from each end aflixed to each end of the outer steel tube so as to seal the space between the outer surface of the inner steel tube and the inner surface of the outer steel tube in a fluid-tight man ner, each bushing having an opening transversing it parallel to the center bore of the bushing, a tool joint box pressure shrunk about a protruding end of the inner steel tube having an outside diameter substantially the same as the outside diameter of the outer steel tube and aflixed to the outer steel tube by an annular weld, and a tool joint pin pressure shrunk to the other protruding end of the inner steel tube and having an outside diameter substantially the same as the outside diameter of the outer steel tube and afiixed thereto by an annular weld, and fluid of a predetermined density provided in the cylindrical space hereinabove described.

5. A device of the class described, comprising an inner steel tube and an outer steel tube arranged one within the other with their respective opposite ends proximate each other, except for an extension of the inner steel tube protruding beyond each opposite end of the outer steel tube, forming a cylindrical space between the outer surface of the inner steel tube and the inner surface of the outer steel tube, a bushing, provided about its circumference with a slot carrying a sealing substance in contact with the inner surface of the outer steel tube, aflixed to each end of the outer steel tube so as to seal the space between the outer surface of the inner steel tube and the inner surface of the outer steel tube in a fluid-tight manner, each bushing having an opening tr-ansversing it parallel to the center bore of the bushing, a tool joint box pressure shrunk about a protruding end of the inner steel tube having an outside diameter substantially the same as the outside diameter of the outer steel tube and afiixed to the outer steel tube by an annular weld, and a tool joint pin pressure shrunk to the other protruding end of the inner steel tube and having an outside diameter substantially the same as the outside diameter of the outer steel tube and aflixed thereto by an annular weld, and fluid of a pre-determined density provided in the cylindrical space hereinabove described.

6. A device of the class described, comprising an inner steel tubeand an outer steel tube arranged one within the other with their respective opposite ends proximate each other, except for a protruding end portion of the inner steel tube beyond each end of the outer steel tube, the inner surface of each end of the outer steel tube being tapered in shape towards the longitudinal center of the outer steel tube, said inner steel tube and outer steel tube forming a cylindrical space between the outer surface of the inner steel tube and the inner surface of the outer steel tube, a bushing aflixed to each end of the inner steel tube at the end portion of the outer steel tube and having a tapered outer surface in slidable contact with the inner surface of the outer steel tube so as to seal the cylindrical space between the outer surface of the inner steel tube and the inner surface of the outer steel tube in a fluid-tight manner, each bushing having a longitudinal opening partially threaded and closed by a screw plug facilitating the filling of the cylindrical space with a fluid of pre-selected gravity, a tool joint box shrunk fit about the outer surface of the inner steel tube and the outer surface of the outer steel tube and afiixed thereto by an annular weld,

a tool joint pin shrunk fit about the other protruding' end of the inner steel tube and about the end of the outer steel tube and afi'ixed thereto by annular weld, and fluid of pre-selected density and quantity stored in the cylindrical space hereinabove described.

7. A device of the class described, comprising an inner steel tube and an outer steel tube arranged one within the other with their respective opposite ends proximate each other, a bushing shrunk fit to each opposite end of the inner steel tube between the inner steel tube and the outer steel tube and having an outside diameter substantially equal to the inside diameter of the outer steel tube, sealing the space between the inner steel tube and the outer steel tube in a fluid-tight manner, each of said bushings having -a longitudinal opening extending from the outside into the cylindrical space formed between the bush- 7 ings and the outer surface of the inner steel tube and the inner surface of the outer steel tube, which opening is partially threaded and sealed by a screw plug, a tool joint box threadedly arranged about one threaded end of the inner steel tube and weldedly aflixed to the corresponding end of the outer steel tube, a tool joint pin threadedly aflixed to the opposite threaded end of the inner steel tube and weldedly afiixed to the corresponding end of the outer steel tube, and fluid of pre-determined density and quantity stored in said cylindrical space.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,259,191 10/1941 Allen 166242 X 2,406,809 9/1946 Davis et al. 22013 2,727,649 12/ 1955 Piantanida 22013 X FOREIGN PATENTS 1,169,407 9/ 1958 France.

187,487 7/1907 Germany.

LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner.

T. MOORHEAD, Assistant Examiner. 

6. A DEVICE OF THE CLASS DESCRIBED, COMPRISING AN INNER STEEL TUBE AND AN OUTER STEEL TUBE ARRANGED ONE WITHIN THE OTHER WITH THEIR RESPECTIVE OPPOSITE ENDS PROXIMATE EACH OTHER, EXCEPT FOR A PROTRUDING END PORTION OF THE INNER STEEL TUBE BEYOND EACH END OF THE OUTER STEEL TUBE AND INNER SURFACE OF EACH END OF THE OUTER STEEL TUBE BEING TAPERED IN SHAPE TOWARDS THE LONGITUDINAL CENTER OF THE OUTER STEEL TUBE, SAID INNER STEEL TUBE AND OUTER STEEL TUBE FORMING A CYLINDRICAL SPACE BETWEEN THE OUTER SURFACE OF THE INNER STEL TUBE AND THE INNER SURFACE OF THE OUTER STEEL TUBE, A BUSHING AFFIXED TO EACH END OF THE INNER STEEL TUBE AT THE END PORTION OF THE OUTER STEEL TUBE AND HAVING A TAPERED OUTER SURFACE IN SLIDABLE CONTACT WITH THE INNER SURFACE OF THE OUTER STEEL TUBE SO AS TO SEAL THE CYLINDRICAL SPACE BETWEEN THE OUTER SURFACE OF THE INNER STEEL TUBE AND THE INNER SURFACE OF THE OUTER STEEL TUBE IN A FLUID-TIGHT MANNER, EACH BUSHING HAVING A LONGITUDINAL OPENING PARTIALLY THREADED AND CLOSED BY A SCREW PLUG FACILITATING THE FILLING OF THE CYLINDRICAL SPACE WITH A FLUID OF PRE-SELECTED GRAVITY, A TOOL JOINT SHRUNK FIT ABOUT THE OUTER SURFACE OF THE INNER STEEL TUBE AND THE OUTER SURFACE OF THE OUTER STEEL TUBE AND AFFIXED THERETO BY AN ANNULAR WELD, A TOOL JOINT PIN SHRUNK FIT ABOUT THE OTHER PROTRUDING END OF THE INNER STEEL TUBE AND ABOUT THE END OF THE OUTER STEEL TUBE AND AFFIXED THERETO BY ANNULAR WELD, AND FLUID OF PRE-SELECTED DENSITY AND QUANTITY STORED IN THE CYLINDRICAL SPACE HEREINABOVE DESCRIBED. 